Jesus is the center figure of Christmas, which commemorates his birth as the Son of God and promised Messiah, fulfilling prophecy through becoming human (incarnation) in Bethlehem. Believers celebrate His arrival as the beginning of salvation and God’s love for humanity. It is marked by angels, shepherds, and wise men.
The celebration, originally “Christ’s Mass,” centers on His divine birth, and offers hope and a way to eternal life through faith in Him, even as traditions evolve to include secular elements.
The Biblical Story of Jesus’s Birth
- The Promise: God promised a Messiah (Savior) from King David’s line, who would be called in Emmanuel – God with us.
- The Announcement: an angel told Mary she would conceive Jesus by the Holy Spirit, and an angel told Joseph to name him. Jesus, the Savior
- The Journey: A Roman census sent Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, Joseph’s ancestral town.
- The Birth: With no room in the inns, Mary gave birth to Jesus and a stable, placing Him in a manger.
- The Witnesses: angels appeared to shepherds, announcing the good news of peace and the Savior’s birth, leading them to worship Jesus. Wise Men (Magi) followed a star to find and worship the newborn King, bringing gifts.
Christmas celebrates Jesus, the Son of God, becoming human to live among us.
His birth marks the beginning of God’s plan to rescue people from sin and offer new life.
Is a celebration of God‘s immense love and a source of hope, as Jesus offers eternal life.
We could celebrate out of gratitude for this gift, remembering His purpose through worship, giving, an act of kindness
How it became “Christmas”
Christ Mass means a “Mass of Christ combining the name Christ the Messiah with “Mass,” celebrating Holy Communion.
While December 25th became the traditional date in the 4th century, Jesus’s exact birthday isn’t specified in the Bible.
From Pity to Praise 